15.06.2026 11:20
Terrible accident in Limeira: Young woman dies after falling 40 meters when safety rope is forgotten during jump at Skeleton Bridge. Following the tragedy, multiple people have been detained. Reactions to safety failures are growing.
A horrific accident occurred on the Ponte do Esqueleto (Skeleton Bridge) hiking trail in Limeira, São Paulo state, Brazil, a popular spot for extreme sports enthusiasts. Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old university graduate, died after falling approximately 40 meters during a jump event she attended over the weekend.
According to allegations, it emerged that the safety rope, the most critical piece of safety equipment, was not attached when the young woman was released from the bridge in the "Superman position" by the organization team. This negligence turned the jump into a fatal accident.
In footage of the incident, two instructors are seen preparing Maria Eduarda and releasing her into the void, but shortly after, participants can be heard panicking and shouting, "Where is the rope?" The young woman fell rapidly to the ground without any safety measures. Medical teams arriving at the scene determined that the woman, who had suffered severe trauma, had died.
Posts made by Maria Eduarda on her social media account just hours before the incident made the tragedy even more striking. In her posts from the event area, she expressed her excitement and shared preparation moments on the bridge with her followers.
After the disaster, panic broke out at the scene. It was reported that some individuals involved in the organization tried to flee the area but were quickly apprehended by security forces. Several people were taken into custody in connection with the incident, and claims that the event organizing entity did not have legal permits were added to the investigation file.
Following the tragedy, the organization's security deficiencies and unregulated structure drew widespread criticism. Authorities announced that a large-scale investigation had been launched into the incident.
Maria Eduarda's funeral was held in São Paulo. The incident once again highlighted the importance of safety protocols in extreme sports events.